Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey: Could the Mecca defense pact become a game changer in the war against the Houthis in Yemen?

The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan on August 7, 2026, is set to potentially become a game-changer in the ongoing war against the Houthis in Yemen. The trilateral defense pact stipulates that an armed attack on any one of the three states should be regarded as an attack on all. However, until recently, neither Pakistan nor Turkey had joined Saudi Arabia's combat operations in Yemen, citing the development of command and operational structures.

On Monday, an emergency meeting between the defense and foreign ministers and senior military chiefs of the three nations in Riyadh led to the implementation of collective defense commitments, with Turkey and Pakistan agreeing to provide military forces and capabilities for rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia. The appointment of a retired Pakistani lieutenant general, Nauman Mahmood, as the alliance's first secretary-general was also announced.

While the operational specifics of the Mecca pact's activation remain undisclosed, the agreement boasts a combined military strength of approximately 1.4 million active personnel, 3,400 military aircraft, 6,000 tanks, and over 340 naval assets. The involvement of Turkey, a NATO member, may carry broader implications for the alliance, as discussed during the Riyadh meeting.

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